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(No Model.) V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. R. T. VAN VALKENBURG.

CHEMICAL FIRE ENGINE.

No. 432,778. Patented July 22, 1890.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. R T. VAN VALKENBURG. CHEMICAL FIRE ENGINE.

Patented July 22 1890.

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RANDALL T. VAN VALKENBURG, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THEMUSKEGCN CHEMICAL FIRE ENGINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

CHEMICAL FIRE-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LetterslPatent No. 432,778, dated July 22,1890.

Application filed April 1, 1890;

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RANDALL T. VAN VAL-j KENBURG, a citizen of theUnited States, re-, siding at Muskegon, in the county of Muske-f gon andState of Michigan, have invented cer-, tain new and useful Improvementsin Chem-l ical Fire-Engines, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in chemicalfireengines; and the invention consists in the construction,arrangement, and operation of different parts, all as more fullyhereinafter described and shown, and specifically pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,Figure 1 is a side elevation of a complete chemical fire-engineembodying the various improvements herein described. Fig. 2 is anenlarged rear elevatian of the same, partly in section. Fig. 3 is adetached plan of the half-globular bottles contained in the separatereceptacle. Fig. t is a detached vertical section through thehalf'globular bottles, showing also the seal for closing the mouththereof. Fig. 5 is a detached plan of the generators and theirconnections. Fig. 6 is a cross-section of one of the generators. Fig. 7is a vertical central section through the dry-compound receptacle. Fig.8 is a horizontal section of'Fig. 7.

The body of the carriage consists of a strong metal skeleton framearched in the center to permit the front wheel to run under in turning.Its front end is pivotally sup ported on a spring platformgear upon theaxle of the front wheels, and its rear end rests upon, side springs onthe axle of the hind wheels. The rear axle is dropped between the wheelsto form snfficient room for two generators AA,which are of cylindricalform, and are supported side by side above the rear axle by metal strapssecured to the frame. Each generator is connected by a valve-controlledconnection B with the bottom of the mixing tub or cylinder C, which issupported above the generator on curved bearings D, formed upon thesides of the frame. The mixingcylinder is provided with a fill-opening Ein its top, and contains a stirring device (not Serial No. 346,231. (in;model.)

shown) actuated from the outside by the handle F. "In themixing-cylinder the charges areprep'ared for the generatorsthat is, thesolid chemicals are dissolved in a proper amount of waterall asdescribed and shown in a former patent granted to me October, 188$), No.413,837.

Each generator issurmounted by a globular receptacle b the upper half ofwhich is detachably secured to the lower half, preferably by a hinge IIand one or more connectin g-bolts I, which pass throughannular flanges Ion the respective halves. The flanges I are adapted to form a tightjoint when the receptacle is closed and contain bearings for thetrunnions of a globular vessel containing the acid charge. This vesselis preferably composed of two half-globular bottles J,which are tiedtogether by a band J, secured in an annular groove formed by twocomplementary half-circular grooves in the globular sides of thebottles. Two trunnions J are formed on or secured to the band J, and oneof the trunnions projects through the bearing of said trunnion and isadapted to receive a handle J by means of which the vessel may be turnedupside down to discharge its contents through the neck J into thegenerator.

Each of the half-globular bottles has a corresponding half circularmouth J which, when the bottles are banded together, complement eachother to form a ring with two halfcircular apertures. A cap K, swiveledto the lower end of a screw L, which passes through the top of theglobular receptacle, is adapted to seal the mouths of the bottles. Ahandle or wheel L on the upper end of the screw serves to turn the screwup or down, and a rubber gasket in the under side of the cap insures atight joint when the cap is forced down by the screw.

WVithin each generator is secured a perforated shelf Y, so arranged asto receive upon it the contents of the bottles J when they are emptiedand distribute it into the solution in the generator. This shelf ispreferablytroughshaped in cross-section, and extends longitudinally fromone end of the generator to the other, or nearly so, with a suitableincline to accelerate the distribution.

Each generator is provided with a valvebetween the generators and formsasupport for the reel. The discharge-pipe M from the generators entersnear its bottom and extends to near its top, where it discharges intothe receptacle, and another discharge pipe P starts from near the bottomof the receptacle and passes out through the top thereof and connectswith the three-way valve Q, by which the discharge may be directed toeither one of the two reels 1%,01' to both simultaneously, if desired.These two reels are journaled in line with each other transversely tothe frame above the generators, their shafts being supported on theirouter ends in bracketsR, secured upon the side frames, and on theirinner ends in stuffing-boxes R", which are coupled to the opposite sidesof the three-way valve, which latter is supported by its connection withthe receptacle l. Both reels communicate through hollow journals withthe threeway valve, and the flexible pipes R wound on the reels,communicate with the hollow journals through hollow connections R towhich the inner ends of the flexible pipes are permanently secured.

The generators are provided with suitable pressure-gages S andwaste-cocks T, and the carriage is provided with a box-seat U, in whicha supply of chemicals may be stored for recharging the generators. Atthe rear end of the carriage there are secured so-called torches V foruse at night, and a foot-step W is provided for the convenience of theoperator.

The generators being charged with the proper chemicals in the solutionand with the acidcontaining bottles incloscd in the separate receptaclesor domes provided therefor, the engine is ready for instant use. Thecharging of an alkaline saltinto the receptacle provided therefor in thedischarge-pipe, while not absolutely necessary, has the advantage ofpreventing the discharge of any acid substance from the engine which maycause damage,

' and if a carbonate is used it will also help to sustain the pressuretoward the end of the H liable to appear.

discharge, at which time the free acid is most This receptacle for drychemicals also regulates the stream by reasonof its ample size and themanner in which the stream passes through.

To use the engine, the operator lifts the stopper off the bottles andpours the contents into the generator by inverting the bottles with thehandle on the outside. The contents fall'first -on the shelf, whichmixes and distributes them into the solution of the generator. Themixing of the contents of the two bottles is of importance Where the twobottles have different ingredients designed to act chemically upon eachother-as, for instance, in using a sulphite for generating sulphurousacid by bringing it in contact with'sulphuric acid contained in one ofthe bottles. The valves in the discharge-pipes M control the dischargefrom either generator into the receptacle N and from there it maybedirected by the valve Q to either or both reels. The generators are thusadapted to work independently of each other or jointly, and the streammaybe discharged through either or both reels, as circumstances mayrequire.

Byusing the mixing-tub to keep a-qu-autity of the solution in readinessfor a new charge and working the generators alternately one generatormay be charged while the other is discharged, and thus great efficiencyof the engine is obtained.

The use of two bottles united together permits the use of differentchemicals without additional complication in the. mechanism and in thework of charging, while the globular form presents at the same time themaxim unt contents in the most compact form. The time required forcharging the generators is also much shortened by the construction andarrangement of the acid-receptacle and the devices forsealing andoperating the bottles.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. In a chemical fireengine, thecombination of two hose-reels journaled inline with each other andprovided with hollow journals at their inner ends communicating with thehose upon the reels, a three-way valve cornmunicating with the generatoror. generators and with either or both of the reels through bearingsformed at opposite sides of said valve and into which the hollowjournals of the reels engage, substantially as described.

2. In a chemical fire-engine, the combination of two generators providedwith separate valve-controlled discharge-pipes, a common discharge-pipeinto which said separate discharge-pipes communicate, and a three-wayvalve communicating with said common discharge-pipe, and two hose-reelshaving hollow journals communicating with the valveports of saidthree-way valve and with the hose 011 the reels, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a chemical fire-engine, the combination of the separate receptacleprovided with the perforated vessel for containing a dry chemical, theinlet-pipe entering said receptacle near the bottom and extending nearthe top thereof and the outlet-pipe through the top extending to nearthe bottom of said receptacle, substantially as described.

4. In a chemical fire-engine, the combination, with the frame, of thetwo generators supported thereon, the receptacle N, supported upon theframe between the generators, the valve-controlled discharge-pipes M ofthe generators, the common discharge-pipe M into said receptacle, thedischarge-pipe P through the top of said receptacle, the threeway valvea on the pipe P, the stuffing-boxes R secured on opposite sides of saidvalve, and the hose-reels having a hollow journal engaging into saidstuffing-boxes, substantially as described.

5. In a chemical fire-engine, the combination of the generator A, theseparate receptacle G, provided with two or more vessels containing fireextinguishing or generating fluids of diiterent kinds, and the shelf Y,secured within the generator below the separate receptacle,substantially as described.

6. In a'chemical fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the globularreceptacle, of a divided globular vessel in the receptacle formed withseparate mouths and having a circumferential groove therein, atrunnionbearing band in the groove for uniting the partsof the vessel,and astopper forthe Inou ths, substantially as described.

7. In a chemical fire-engine, the combina tion, with a separateireceptacle adapted to receive and discharge a liquid charge containedin a globular vessel, substantially as described, of a globular vesselconsisting of two half-globular bottles having central peripheralgrooves therein,a metal loop secured in the annular groove formed insaid bottles uniting the same, and a long and a short trunnion securedto said metal loop, said long trunnion being adapted to project throughits bearing in the receptacle and receive a crank-handle, substantiallyas described.

8. In a chemical fire-engine, the combination, with a generator A, of aglobular receptacle G, constructed in two halves, the upper half beinghinged to the lower half, the annular flanges I, formed on therespective halves and provided with a suitable packing, and means ofsecuring the two halves together, the bearings formed in said flanges,the globular vessel consisting of two halfglobular bottles J, bandedtogether centrally and provided with trunnions J, adapted to engage intothe aforesaid bearings, the handle applied to one of said trunnions, andthe stopper K, secured to a vertical screw-stem in the upper half of thereceptacle and adapted to seal the mouth of each bottle, substantiallyas described.

9. In a fire-extinguisher, the combination, with the globularreceptacle, of a globular vessel supported on trunnions within saidreceptacle and provided with means for reversing the same, said vesselconsisting of two semi-globular parts, each providedwith asemicircularnnouthcontiguousandcomplementary to each other, and a singlestopper for the mouths, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses,this 6th day of January, 1890.

RANDALL T. VAN VALKENBURG.

WVitnesses:

M. B. ODoeHER'rY, P. M. HULBERT.

